BMW 7 Series and i7 updated with fresh styling and tech-packed interior
The biggest upgrade ever given to a BMW, the new 7 Series and electric i7 feature a bolder appearance and a new interior...
On sale Autumn Price £102,000 (est)
Every year, Apple announces a new version of the iPhone, and while the basic form and function remain the same, each boasts important upgrades: more power, a longer battery life and exciting new features. You could say the same thing about the BMW 7 Series. It’s been BMW’s flagship since the 1970s but continually improved, adapting to suit the ever-changing taste of buyers.
While the latest 7 Series isn’t a totally new model, much like the latest iPhone and its operating system, it’s been given a considerable update. This includes the 7 Series’ styling, which is now cleaner and more closely follows the brand’s Neue Klasse design brief – the look seen first on our reigning Car of the Year, the BMW iX3. As a result, the kidney grilles have been made squarer, and the headlights have been integrated into the bumper’s air vents. The daytime running lights have been made even slimmer than before and now feature a crystal pattern.
As before, the 7 Series will be available with two plug-in hybrid (PHEV) options, with the cheaper 750e xDrive producing 483bhp. The sportier M760e xDrive uses a stronger electric motor to deliver 563bhp, sprinting to 62mph in 4.3sec; faster than the equivalent Audi A8 or Mercedes S-Class (both 4.7sec).
However, the electric BMW i7 now features a new high-voltage battery which uses the same cell technology found in the iX3 – currently the longest range electric car on the market. That gives the i7 an official range of up to 452 miles – nearly 70 miles more than the current i7 can manage between charges, and about the same as the Mercedes EQS.
The i7’s power options have remained the same, however, with the entry-level 50 xDrive’s 449bhp motor providing enough oomph to accelerate from 0-62mph in 5.5sec. At the other end of the scale, the range-topping M70 xDrive uses two electric motors to reach 62mph in just 3.8sec.
The new i7’s maximum charging speed has also increased to 250kW; faster than a Mercedes EQS can manage (200kW) but the Audi e-tron GT spends even less time at the chargers (320kW).
The 7 Series’ interior feels just as plush as before, featuring leather, deep carpeting and crystal glass-effect trim for the few physical controls that remain, such as the volume dial. Following BMW’s Neue Klasse approach, the new 7 Series’ interior features a trapezoid-shaped 17.9in central touchscreen. It runs the brand’s latest iDrive system, which is incredibly intuitive and responsive, although lacks the rotary control from the outgoing 7 Series that made navigating menus easier on the move.
A conventional driver’s display has been swapped in favour of BMW’s massive Panoramic iDrive screen, which spans the entire width of the dashboard. While all the vital information – such as your speed and range – is always displayed in front of the driver, you can configure the rest of the screen to display other details – including the time, temperature and your music – wherever suits you.
What’s more, the 7 Series now features a passenger touchscreen as standard. Featuring the same trapezoid design as the central screen, this display can be used to watch movies and play video games. To prevent distractions, this screen will freeze if the car detects that the driver is looking at it.
Rear passengers also have two small touchscreens fitted in the doors – which can be used for functions such as adjusting the temperature or reclining their seats – and the option of a massive 31.3in 8K touchscreen that folds down from the roof. Much like the passenger touchscreen, this display can be used to watch videos, and now features Dolby Atmos surround sound and a camera for video conferencing.
In addition to featuring all those screens, BMW has also added a new roster of driver assistance functions to the 7 Series. These include Highway Assistant, which is capable of hands-free driving on motorways from the sliproad on to the exit off. From the end of 2026, BMW hopes to broaden the 7 Series’ autonomous driving capabilities with the introduction of City Assistant, which will support hands-free journeys in urban environments.
The new BMW 7 Series will arrive in the Autumn, and while pricing information is yet to be revealed, it’s unlikely to increase over the current starting price of a little more than £100,000.
